Raw Food and Winter
We have been getting snow for the last 13 hours. I do live in Minnesota but seriously, it is way early for us. I think we are breaking a record for the most snow this early in the season. I love snow, and believe me, it is beautiful. It will probably be gone in a few days but for now, there is a winter wonderland outside of my front door!
When the weather turns cold, being raw and staying raw starts to present some challenges. As you know, I am not 100% raw. I try to be at least 80%. There are times where I am 100% and honestly, it is when I feel the best. But for social events, and especially in the winter, I cut myself some slack. It is interesting, my body always informs me that I have ventured off course and I always pay.
With that in mind, I have started experimenting with more recipes that are “warm” raw. I know that in the middle of the winter, when it is -30 out, I am not looking forward to a cold dinner. I also don’t want to give up all of the health giving benefits of eating raw. I do want food that is more substantial.
The answer? I start to put my dehydrator to use. You can warm up soups and “pastas”, make hearty mushroom burgers and rib sticking breads. Another winter technique that I like to use is to make food more savory. Using spices and herbs that we associate with fall and winter foods can be very satisfying. You can still have your squash with sage “cream” sauce and craisins. We will just use some different methods to keep the health giving nutrients as high as possible.
Keeping a high percentage of your diet raw is not difficult during the cold season. It just requires you to think differently than you are used to. I will be bringing you many warm raw recipes over the next few months. Have fun, learn some new things and choose health!
GG wrote on October 13, 2009
I’m new to the raw movement and I found this to be a great, informative post! Thanks so much 🙂
Nadia wrote on October 12, 2009
I live in California now, but when I lived in Massachusetts (2 years ago) it snowed on October 15th! Although I live in a moderate climate, I do like to have some warm raw food! Thanks for the advice!
Ian wrote on October 12, 2009
Sounds good; can’t wait!!! I love the fall season for its flavors, aromas, and foods!
pure2raw twins wrote on October 12, 2009
Great advice. I was just thinking about cold winter months… though my cold is not as nearly as cold as yours. HAHA> Though, I do plan to make my raw foods a little warm too.
Cyndi wrote on October 12, 2009
I’m not happy to hear that you’ve got that much snow already!! I’m in Chicago (not far enough away from MN to not be freaked out by snow in October) and the weather has been unseasonably cool all year. I’ve been suspecting that we’d have an early and bad winter. Ugh.
Pam wrote on October 12, 2009
Stay warm!
Evita wrote on October 12, 2009
Wow -snow already and they say Canada is so bad 😉 I am in southern Ontario and no snow yet. I am not expecting any at least till the end of November, but seeing how this spring, summer and fall are, I am not holding my breath. It looks like 2009 was just one cold year.
Anyway about the raw, I am glad you are in a cold enviro and writing about it as I was wondering about that lately myself. I try to eat at least 1-2 full meals raw a day, but as the cold weather approaches it is as you say nice to have some warm food.
So I love learning from others what they are doing. For now I am still cooking any grains I eat, and some beans – but all fruits, veggies, nuts, etc are raw. I find too that it is definitely easier to eat raw in the summer, but we will see how this winter goes…